by N R Tucker
“Stop, there’s danger ahead.” Fred’s order did nothing to slow down or soothe Victoria.
Yeah right. Surrounded by a powerful shield that no one without the proper genetics could get through, the worst that could happen to Victoria would be a strong shock when she ran into the shield. Too bad humans like her couldn’t see it with the naked eye. It was the last straw. She had been kidnapped, beaten, and hounded by the AIB. She just wanted to learn. Learning should be rewarded, not penalized.
Sweat ran into Victoria’s eyes, and her breathing became labored. She would have to stop soon, just to catch her breath. Fred probably wasn’t even breathing hard. A pocket of fresh air hit her face. Victoria slowed down and was grabbed.
“Got her.”
The voice didn’t belong to Fred or anyone she recognized. Before she could fight, her eyes were drawn in the direction of a gunshot, she saw Fred on the ground, blood pouring from his chest. He reached for her, and they put another bullet in him. A blow to her head knocked her out.
Chapter 47
Victoria woke to a pounding headache. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a cell that was clean enough to be an operating room. Along with a plate of raw fruits and vegetables, a carafe of water and a glass sat on the table. How civilized. Her eyes darted around the room. Based on the visible technology, the style of the room, and the lack of red dragons attacking, Victoria was still in the Seen.
This was all her fault. Fred had been shot following her while she had a temper tantrum, and somehow, they had left the shield. Maybe the humans attacked the shifter stronghold and the shield over Calabozo was down. This was bad. If the shifters were fighting for their lives, there might not be anyone to rescue her this time. Maybe she used up her allotment of saves, especially since she had been whiney of late.
Victoria heard footsteps outside the room, she grabbed a weapon and waited. Even in this grim situation, she couldn’t stop the smirk. Her captors had at least one gun, and Victoria held a fork. Oh yeah, this would go well for her.
The cell door opened, and a man said, “Toss her in with the other.”
Victoria watched helplessly as another woman landed on the floor. She had been severely beaten and they dumped her with no regard for her wellbeing. The door shut, and Victoria dropped down beside her new roommate. The unknown woman wore a military uniform with the name Monroe stitched onto it, and rank sewed on the upper part of the sleeve, but Victoria didn’t know military grades, except that stars on the top of the shoulder meant general. This rank consisted of stripes and a star. Using the cloth napkin, dipped in water from the carafe, Victoria carefully cleaned Monroe’s wounds and waited.
In a surprisingly short amount of time, Monroe groaned.
“Stay where you are. No obvious breaks, but you’ve been beaten pretty bad.”
Monroe opened the one eye that would open and looked around. She faced Victoria, and her good working eye widened, “Aren’t you that super smart chick who knows how to track magic?”
Victoria huffed. “I’m Victoria, and I am a chick. As far as super smart goes, this is the third time I’ve been kidnapped since I discovered how to track dimensional gates. I think it’s safe to say I’ve been bleeding IQ points for a while. And what infuriates me most is that if I had listened to Tempe, Ryan, and Fred, I wouldn’t have been kidnapped the last two times. Seriously, does that sound super smart to you?”
“Not particularly, but at least you’re smart enough to not get beaten.”
“Based on previous experience, I think they haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
Monroe chuckled, and her split lip cut open again. “Ugh, that hurts. I’m Amy Monroe.”
“Nice to meet you. So, who are our captors? I was knocked on the back of the head before they introduced themselves.”
“The AIB, or at least people that used to be in the AIB.” Amy touched her front teeth like they were loose. “I think I know who Tempe and Ryan are, but who’s Fred?”
“He’s an overbearing, knuckle-dragging Neanderthal of a shifter who thinks he knows what’s best for me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, “They shot him twice when they took me.”
Amy continued to look for broken bones. “Shifters heal fast. I’m sure he’ll be okay.” In an attempt to lift Victoria’s spirits, Amy grinned and said, “So your boyfriend’s a shifter, and he’s been trying to protect you from danger. And now you’re mad because he was right.”
“If you’re going to throw facts around instead of joining in my rant, I’m not sure we can be friends.”
“I apologize. You’re right of course.” Monroe attempted to stand and decided it would be prudent to remain on the ground before she passed out again. She moved around trying to find a position that didn’t hurt and put her hands in her pockets. “Why are you here?”
“They haven’t told me yet, but I suspect they want to pick my brain. How about you?”
“I arrived at my grandparents’ home for a few days of leave, and some of their neighbors had gone missing. I didn’t even have time to change. I tracked two of the teenagers, only to end up kidnapped, like you. Because it’s well known that I worked with Tempest once during the dual full moons, these AIB goons tried to beat me for information.” She raised her voice in case anyone was listening, “I haven’t seen Tempest for months, and I only met her one time. I don’t know anything.”
Victoria patted her right shoulder, as it seemed to be the only place Amy wasn’t wounded. Victoria said, “Based on the last time the AIB kidnapped me, they don’t care if we know anything or not. They just like to beat people.”
The door opened. Dave Roberts followed two guards into the room. “Staff Sergeant Monroe, we know you tried to save Tempest’s son at the Salt Lake mega gate. Tempest would have given you a way to contact her.”
“She thanked me, but she didn’t give me a phone number or email address.”
“She gave you something, though. Didn’t she? Some way to contact her if you’re in trouble. You are now in trouble and need to call her. If not for yourself, for the shifter teenagers you were tracking.”
“Those kids aren’t shifters! I used to babysit them when I spent summers with my grandparents.”
Dave leaned down and smiled, “We have an informant who says they’re shifters. We’ll test them and discover the truth.”
Victoria glared at him, “You don’t care if they’re shifters. You kidnapped them thinking the Sergeant would track them, allowing you to grab her. She’s bait! Your way to Tempest. Well, I will be more than happy to call her. I know a number that will get to her, and I feel quite certain she’ll come when I call.” Her eyes narrowed on the guards, “And, not that she’ll need the help, but I’ll bet she’ll bring some friends with her. Probably friends of the guy you shot when you kidnapped me.”
“We didn’t kidnap you! We saved you.” One of the guards growled.
“You saved me? From what? I work with the shifters. They respect me. They don’t lock me in a cell or beat me.” Aside to Amy, she added, “At one time, I wanted a corner office in a prestigious university. Now I just want to work somewhere safe. My standards have lowered.” Tapping her foot, Victoria held out her hand, “Give me a phone and I’ll call.”
“No. I don’t want you to dial a number we already know. I want Monroe to contact Tempest. The fae are sure the medic who tried to save her son received some sort of bracelet from the half breed, and I want to see it.”
Amy rolled up both sleeves to expose her wrists. “Aside from a bracelet being non-regulation, you can see that I have no bracelet on at this time.” She bit back her irritation. She had removed the bracelet and dropped it in her pocket, but maybe she shouldn’t have. Amy didn’t want Tempest to show up to a trap.
*****
“What’s the verdict?” Ryan adjusted his gear and waited for the report. Kenley had been fast with the tricorder, and Ryan had assumed everyone could use it quickly.
“Still working on it,” Phoenix growled
. “Maybe we should have brought Destin with us.”
Ryan sighed, apparently not.
“Yeah, we need more humans in the field.” Gerbold held out his hand. “Give the electronic toy to the shifter who manipulates electronics.”
“Fine.” Phoenix tossed Gerbold the tricorder.
Gerbold barely glanced at the device. “Three cells in the basement with a total of five humans inside. Another room, heavy on technology, is where Victoria and the woman wearing Tempe’s bracelet are being kept.”
Phoenix’s mouth dropped open. “How did you do that so fast?”
“Later,” Ryan held up his hand for silence. “Pat, take Phoenix and Kaleb, check out the cells and rescue anyone you can. Gerbold, you’re with me.”
Pat reviewed the schematics and teleported the three of them inside the facility.
Ryan turned to Gerbold, “Tell me about the heavy technology.”
*****
The alarms sounded off as soon as Ryan opened a gate into the hallway near where the girls were held. Cloaked under his invisibility shield, Ryan and Gerbold were able to hug the wall as guards ran past them to the open gate.
“I feel like a hobbit with the one ring on my finger,” Gerbold whispered.
Ryan ignored the comment and moved down the hall.
Gerbold used the tricorder to point toward a heavily guarded room. The guards had iron weapons and an iron net. This had been a trap for Tempe. “That’s the room we’re looking for.”
“Of course, it is,” Ryan sighed. He checked his phone and nodded to himself after Pat and the others were gone. “Okay, follow the plan.”
Gerbold nodded, and Ryan dropped his shield. Gerbold short-circuited the power, and the facility was engulfed in darkness. Before the backup power kicked in, he short-circuited that as well.
Wearing night-vision goggles, both men ran for the door knocking people out of the way. It wasn’t difficult since most people were hugging the walls, unable to see in the total darkness of the underground facility.
The two guards in front of the door were well trained. As soon as the lights had gone out, they had closed ranks and, shoulder-to-shoulder, were prepared to fight. Even in the confusion, no one approached the guards, as if everyone understood going near that guarded door would get them killed. Ryan held out his hand and used wind to move both guards out of his way. A few unfortunate wall huggers were blown down the hall as well.
Ryan guarded the door, while Gerbold rushed in to grab the girls. Without goggles, the girls couldn’t see, and Amy kicked out when she was grabbed.
Gerbold groaned and fell to one knee as the kick made contact with his groin. “Shifter here. We’re rescuing you.”
“He’s with us,” Victoria yelled, hands out, searching for Amy in the dark. “He’s one of my guards.”
“Sorry,” Amy said.
Gerbold clenched his teeth and stood up. She didn’t sound sorry. “I have to guide you. Ryan opened a gate.” He grabbed Victoria again and turned to grab Amy. She had moved in closer, and he elbowed her in the stomach, “Sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry either.
He moved them toward the gate. A bullet whizzed past Ryan and embedded in Gerbold’s shoulder. He pushed the girls through the gate and followed them. In the light of the PAC HQ pad, he got a good look at Amy. “Why didn’t you say you were injured?” He provided his designation and passcode, lifted Amy, and ran through the checkpoint, yelling “Victoria, keep up.” Shifter guards circled around Victoria, and they followed Gerbold.
The rescue had been planned, and the wizards on guard duty were expecting them. Everyone got out of his way as he ran for the clinic. Gerbold laid her on the cot. “You should have told me you were beaten.”
“You’re shot. Of the two of us, you’re in the worst shape.”
“Shot? One bullet. It’s nothing.”
“Let Lea remove the bullet and clean the area before it closes.” Jeff pointed Gerbold toward the only chair in the room where he could get treatment. To Amy, he added, “Gerbold is right. You were badly beaten. He should have carried you instead of you risking more injury.”
“I’m fine,” she retorted, sitting up. “We have to go back and get the two teenagers those fools thought were shifters.”
Jeff gently pushed her back down on the cot. “Counting you and Victoria, seven people were rescued from the facility. I’ll have someone verify the two you’re worried about are with them.”
A guard stepped out of the room and returned a short time later with two boys.
“Amy, you alright? They said you were injured trying to help us. You look bad.” A teenage boy winced.
“Tyler! Where’s Hunter?”
“I’m here,” Hunter stuck his head in the doorway of the crowded room. “Did they do this to you because you tried to rescue us?”
“No, they beat her because of me.” Tempe walked into the room. “I need to adjust the spell on the bracelet. No preternatural would have beaten you with a Bracelet of Honor revealed. I’ll have to do something to keep humans away.”
Amy frowned, “Hmm, Tempest, I’ve used the bracelet. You said it could be used only once.”
“I’ll reset it. I think you need protection still.”
“Yes, she does. I’ll guard her for a few days until it’s reset,” Gerbold said.
“I don’t need a guard. I’m a soldier.”
“You’re a medic. You need to be guarded.” Gerbold’s tone brooked no opposition.
Amy sputtered. Tempe laid a calming hand on the sergeant’s shoulder. “Gerbold’s right. You need a guard, and he’s offered. Would you prefer someone else?”
“No, if I have to be guarded by an overbearing male, it might as well be him.” Amy looked over at Victoria, “You’re right. Shifter males are overbearing, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.”
Tempe chuckled and checked a text before asking, “Have you boys been cleared by medical? Your mom is here.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Tyler nodded. “Um, Amy, since the AIB will probably hold a press conference, you should know.”
“Know what?”
“We’re preternaturals. Not powerful, like Tempest –”
“Nowhere near as powerful,” Hunter cut in to add. “We’re just witches. I’m pretty good at lighting candles and starting bonfires. Tyler’s got a real gift for electronics. We can both work a couple of minor spells, but otherwise, we’re not powerful.”
“Yeah, if we were, the AIB wouldn’t have gotten us,” Tyler added.
Amy peered closely at the boys. “They didn’t beat you?”
“No, took blood for the test and tossed us in a cell. The AIB mentioned something about using us. I think they only took us to trap you. Bonus for them, they chose well and know we’re witches now.”
“Not your fault,” Tempe said. “If you go with Joey, he’ll take you to your mom.”
Fred walked in as the boys left. Victoria squealed and jumped into his arms. He staggered back into the wall. “Take it easy. The healer and doctors did a great job patching me up, but I’m still weak.”
“Sorry, I’m just so glad to see you alive.” Victoria snuggled into his arms.
“I’m glad to see you too.” With his arms still around Victoria, Fred looked over her head at Tempe, “The gate closed. Ryan didn’t return.”
Chapter 48
Ryan heaved a sigh of relief. Fred and the humans were through the gate. He turned to follow, and something pierced his skin. Ryan reached up and pulled out a dart. Dizzy from the dart, he watched Dave order two soldiers to enter the portal. Ryan’s “No!” came out as a slur. He pulled the dart out and fell to the ground. He fell unconscious and the gate closed.
Ryan woke up on a hospital cot, raised as high as it would go, in a clean room, with a mesh of iron covering all four sides, as well as the floor and ceiling. At least he wasn’t in those magic stopping cuffs again. Ryan smirked. The iron wouldn’t hurt him, but if a fae were in this room, they wouldn’t survive long. The humans
believed iron harmed all preternaturals. If he left, they would know the truth, so he’d wait and look for a better opportunity.
His hand touched the hilt of the Patron’s Sword, and it vibrated. Ryan looked down and verified that the sword was still there. Why would the humans leave him a weapon? Tempe said they wouldn’t see it, but he hadn’t really believe that.
A screen on the wall flickered and turned on. Dave Roberts, Sr., smiled. “The fae we put in this room died in under thirty-six hours. Wonder how long a shifter can last?”
“Guess we’ll find out.” Ryan swung his legs over the side of the cot that was locked in place higher than a normal bed, letting his feet dangle. “Have you heard from the men you sent through my gate?”
“No, I’m waiting for the sovereign to call and offer an exchange. My men for you.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Ryan muttered. Louder he added, “Anyone inside a gate when it closes simply disappears. We don’t know where they go or if they simply cease to exist when the gate does. The only thing we know is they are never seen again.”
“You lie!”
“No reason to. It’s a fact. Preternaturals don’t enter a gate opened by someone who’s injured and might pass out. It’s not worth the risk.”
Dave cut the feed into the room.
Ryan leaned back on the bed, stretched his arms, and tried to contact Sage, mind-to-mind. Nothing. He took a deep breath, centered himself, and tried again. Still nothing. Was a preternatural helping the humans by dampening telepathy? If he opened a gate and left, the secret would be out that only the fae were affected by iron. Unsure what to do, he pretended to sleep with his hands behind his back. With any luck, the humans would think he was weakening from the cold iron. His hand closed on a chain with some type of pendant. He fingered it but didn’t look at it. No reason to let the AIB know what he had found.
